According to the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, innovators and entrepreneurs in agriculture can sign up for its rural and agricultural program that will help develop their ideas, build networking skills and increase understanding of the business world.
There are two programs. One, Activate Oklahoma, helps ideas from rural Oklahomans become a business or product that can bring economic opportunities to their own neck of the woods.
The other, AgCelerate Oklahoma, is a pipeline for ideas or technology with on farm applications that make life easier for ag producers.
Each program provides the participants with training sessions that take place on multiple dates between April and September. They will be connected with business resources that can help expand and grow their businesses.
Each also offers the chance for participants to pitch ideas for equity investment from partner organizations and prepare for funding options like grants, loans and creative financial mechanisms.
To participate, the applicant must have a business an Oklahoma community with fewer than 50,000 population. They must also go through an interview. The programs are free of charge and are a collaborative effort between the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and its state and national partners, which include include AgLaunch Initiative, Oklahoma CareerTech, Oklahoma SBDC, Oklahoma i2E, Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science and Technology, Generation Food Rural Partners Fund, Oklahoma State University’s Food and Agricultural Products Center, Noble Research Institute and Cortado Ventures.
Applications are available at okfarmbureau.org/Accel eratorApp and must be completed by April 4 to be considered.